After working over 80 hours in the summer alone, the Blue Valley Marching Band is “excited and ready to march to [their] show, ‘In the Spotlight’ and looks forward to representing the school in the upcoming season,” sophomore Nathan Niederhauser said.

“The show discusses all the pressures and power behind being in the center of public attention,” band major senior Jefferson Harwood said.

Sophomore Hannah Maxwell said the band finds themselves in the spotlight in different ways and forms — throughout the show, they go through the twists and turns of fame.

In order to convey this message to the audience, Harwood said the band uses music and visual effects.

“The beginning movement is broad and powerful, which compares to the power of the spotlight and the wonder of when you first enter it,” Harwood said. “The second movement is fast paced and chaotic, resembling the fast paced life in the spotlight. The third movement’s lyrics describe how someone can attempt to find solitude from the spotlight, but it will always find them. The fourth movement is full of victorious melodies and runs, which describes the power of embracing the spotlight and using it as a force for good.”

Harwood said in order to highlight the amazing talent of some of the members there are several different sized spots on the field that students stand on in order to be in the spotlight, where they often have a musical or visual solo.

This show couldn’t come together without lots of hard work from the students and staff Harwood said. The band members give up much of their time during the summer, working on the show from May until the end of October.

“We had our mini band camp back in May and sectionals throughout the summer.” Niederhauser said. “Then for three weeks before school started we had band camp, which is eight hours a day. We have band every morning at 7a.m., as well as Thursday night and Saturday rehearsals.”

Niederhauser said students often find themselves spending their whole day centered around band.

“We have band in the morning, and we do mental reps in our heads during the day,” Niederhauser said. “Then we go home and practice. Plus some of us like to listen to band music.”

Harwood said the biggest thing that students and staff can do for the band is to come and support them at football games and local competitions.

“When the band feels like we have more people on our side, it is easier to be more dedicated,” Harwood said. “We would not be the band we are today without our support team.”